David Plouffe / Garrett Hubbard, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

The former senior adviser, an architect of President Obama's election victories, began tweeting this weekend on such topics as praise for retiring U.S. Sen.Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, criticism for House Budget Chairman and 2012 Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and a commemoration of Obama's victory in the 2008 South Carolina primary.

Plouffe, whose last day in the White House was Friday, also used Twitter to promote the 60 Minutes interview of Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, calling it "compelling TV."

"As many of you know, David has been with me from the very start of this enterprise running for president.

"I can't tell you how lucky I have been to have him manage our campaign back in 2008, then join the White House during these very challenging last two years. He's built a well-deserved reputation as being a numbers genius and a pretty tough combatant when it comes to politics.

"But what people don't always realize -- because he doesn't like to show it -- is the reason he does this stuff is because he cares deeply about people. And he cares about justice, and he cares about making sure that everybody gets a shot in life."